Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-09-30
TRAVELS in EUROPE.

| Lie litfilH snsJ 49, 81 g,s3
NARn>qhksBgT PIER. August 30, 1887.
| MH. 2euf 3llo.s--Haye you ever read Victor
Hugo's Euuchback of Notre Damef Well,
| II must be true, every word Of il, for haven't
I seen the very bell on which the poor Grip
pie used 70 4Wing out morning and evening
| as he rang Htp call the people to mathis, or
| To vespcrs And there, too, is the tower
L where lay concealed the maiden condemned
10 death asa witch Always believe what
yen read. tsue, until 1t is contfAdicted, and
then believe that. II is inteFestng.te watch
| the verbal gymnastics, and sec how the very
same Woras may be twisted round 10 express
Idire6tIy opposite meanings, and you will
thereby be enabled 10 talk on both sidee,
Though, not belpg . politician, that may not
| prove 70 A Of any particular advantage
| 80, pernapS Aftef all, you may accept this
advice With some modification But was
gping 70 tell You about Notre Dame, and
| the service we attended there. The build
Ing jl4olf Vas originally erected between the
| I2t1 audi <th centuries on the site OF an
cid pe4aJ Vplo y 1913, when the Ma
| Sabbath, and substituted the "Rellgion OF
Reason the name was changed 10 "rhe
Temple Of Reason" but received again the
old name when the French Nation recov-
cred ia reason. OF course, 1t has been sew
eral times restored" once by Mansard, who
was also the architect OF the Palace of Yer
sailles and other noted ediflces of his time.
Does not the present Mansard roof probably
owe Its name to this builder We were
fortunate enough to be in Paris on the great
day in the year for this church, think IL
was "Mary's day." though am not certain.
Reaching it at an early hour, we found /.
already about one,fourth full, and although
we secured chairs in the midst of the con.
gregation, we could neither hear nor see,
owing to the immense size Of the audience
room, which has capacity of 10000. No.
ting few privileged people in gallery di.
rectly overlooking the high altar, we beck
oned 10 one ofthe vergers In scarlet gown
and, with the usual American GOODNESS, in
quired ii it would BIO possible to obtain en-
trance there. "Oh, yes" he told us, "if we
choose to pay one franc each" We soon
deposited our eighty cents and established
ourselves In these desirable seats overlook
ing the whole building, and just over the
chancel. | wonder If Americans have more
curiosity than other nations Nearly all in
that gallery were our countrymen The
chancel was as large as many chapels we
see, and was occupied by the new Arch.
bishops venerable whte-h haired man, as
sisted by about fifty priests, cardinals and
choristers. The singing was exquisite, the
solos being rendered by one of the finest
male voices we ever heard. The vestments
were scarlet embroidered In gold, and the
professional one of the most brilliant pa
geants you can imagine, as all those Off
eating, preceded by the ushers in scarlet
knee brooches, silk hose and cooked hats,
marched down the nave and around the
side aisles, making the circuit OF the church.
AS the Archbishop passed down, we saw
mothers pressing forward their little ones,
that he might lay his hand upon their heads.
AT intervals In the service, baskets Of bread
were brought up, blessed and distributed 10
the worshipers. There arc no pews, but
chairs like our hickory chairs, set closely
side by side, and on that day 10000 Of them
were occupied. The building Is cruciform in
shape, and still has one or tive Of the ancient
stained glass windows, though most of them
are modern.
Of course there are other fine churches
besides the American and English chapels
of which might tell you, but, as have be.
fole1 -eaea : sza,at 20 complctq lllese. let
ters IN this generationi
The Opera House comes next 10 mind,
the grandest In the world they say, and GER
dtluly NldHDluttub buDuBl W Whilhut tIt
assertion II is useless for me 10 attempt To
describe a building, not having the terms,
but can tell you that II Is palatial In Its
great stretch of marble columns and floors
and that the corridor alone Is worth a visit.
or course here full dress Is required is
no bonnets are allowed, and some evidence
of evening costume Is visible even on tour
lists who arc not expected 10 carry across
the ocean grande toilette for one or two
occasions only, but who, by little judi
cious twisting of lace and u few flowers, can
produce all the effect required. For gen
tlemen, evening gloves and white tic will
pass muster, under these circumstances, and
not be conspicuous. This Opera House Is
kept up by appropriations annually from
both city and government, and the entrance
Is guarded by mounted men in military
uniform, who, in the strong electric light
with the white marble background, look as
though carved Of stone, so immovabe are
they and their horses. The capacity Of the
building is $4,000. The only way 10 get
really correct idea Of the city is TO ride at
night on an omnibus and note the miles Of
streets In all directions illuminated with gas
and electricity. This we did, and were glad
the idea had been suggested TO US, as the
experience was worth the trouble-the scene
Dtiuk OCJOud Jul SOhSSybitHo
Things seem 10 go on about the same, night
and day, In that great city, and when the
inhabitants sleep Is the marvel or course
we went shopping in Paris In spite Of the
remark of friend before we left home, that
she supposed we would not do as 30 many
Americans do, make our trip 10 Europe
merely a shopping EXPEDITION We told
her no, that we hoped 10 SEQ great many
things besides the shops, but we took them
In among the sights 10 be seen, nevertheless,
and enjoyed them thoroughly, Frank, as
well IS the ladies Of our party. One must
be blind not 10 appreciate tho artistic effects
OF refined French taste, and beautiful
thing Ia still beautiful, whether II be u
statue, a picture, or q gown. And speaking
Of gowns, why should people affect To de-
spise dress and personal adornmcnt when
love for that adornment Is implanted In
every human breast--from the savage, with
his nose ring, 70 the Queen with her Jewels?
Even the old patriarchs themselves, whom
we are expected 10 admire and initiate, took
pleasure In "purple and fine linen" and
when Jacob Wanted 10 express especial par
TALLY for his youngest born, he gave him
coat which would have made the boy a
dude, In this age. And the very first gin Of
the father 10 his returned prodigal, after
putting shoes and the necessary apparel up,
on him, was rlng-a thing solely for or
nament, of no use In the world excepting 10
keep engaged girls and young married peo-
pie from indulging In ilirtations A reason.
able, tasteful personal adornment seems as
much an honor 10 the Creator who thought
IL worth while 10 "make man In His own
image" as the handsome framing Of pic
ture painted by friend, eylnces an appre.
citation Of its value, and have always felt
that the poet who sang OF "this vile body"
must have had an unusually poor one him.
self, which had drfted away from the origi.
nal standard through ssmo fault Of his own
or Of bis ancestors. A Glove Of Dress" like
temper, Is an Improvement 70 the charac.
ter when properly controlled. Such being
our sentiments, Sue, you will not be sur
In hat ar